The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-08-04
THE AcADlANs or LOUISIANA.
n People Who Have Been Little Changed
by Time-A Simnle Lilo.

A People Who Have Been Little Changed
by Time-A Simple Life.
Back from that great highway, the
Mississippi, there are innunerabe smaller
streams, called bayous in this section,
which fertilize an immense expanse of
prairie in western Louisiana. Ii is an
idyllic region; there are myriads Of
tropical flowers spangiing the beautiful
plains OF Opelousas and Altakapas, whose
long grasses sway and Shangc color with
every passing breeze; the hayous and
little lakes gleam like silver in the sun
shine. their islands marked with hugo
live oaks and venerable cypress trees.
Enthusiastically gnrlanded with Spanish
moss. Mukiuaes of brilliant hirls adj
10 t.,e beauty Of the sceae; the quiet
Sayous are often stirred by the swift
canoe of the sportsman III search of the
wild fowl with which this section
abounds 1t is n land beloved of artist
and poet; il Is the country OF Longfel-
lows "Evangeline.
Along the numerous water courses
where steamboats, are never seen, where
railroads are unknown, the exiied Aca-
dians are found in all their primitive
simplicity, retaining almost unchanged
the language, manners, customs and
supcrstitions Of the French peasants of
nearly two centuries ago. These pecu-
liar people were originally colonists from
Normandy, who settled in Nova Scotia,
but were driven thence, as every one
knows, by the prosecutions of the Eng
lish. a modern historian says of them:
1.-The Acadians were the most interesting
French colonists in America. and no plea
of necessity could justify the cruelty of
tearing them away from their homes
and consigning them to wretchedness
and poverty"
Not for long. however, were they
doomed to wretchedness and poverty, for
i'll 1755 these exiles found their way to
Louisiana, where they made n fortunate
exchange in the sunny cline and fertile
plains they peopled for the bleak land
they had left behind them. A souvenir
of their former home, the province of
Acadie, has chung to them in their name,
although they do not call themselves
Acadiaps, but ''Creoles Francais."
The Americans, and even the Creoles.
have corrupted the name Acadian into
" Caiun, which term these people re-
sent strongly, yet as "Cajuns" they are
known all over the state. They are in
fact, Creoles, being the descendants of
French parents, born in French colony,
but they are an entirely distinct people
from all other populations of Gallo
descent in Louisiana,
They still retain marked characteristics
of their Norman origin, as unlike the
French people of more southern provinces
as if they We're indeed OF separate race.
Those Acadians who were of an upper
class have long been amalgamated
through mtcrmarriage or association
with other Creoles of the state; but the
great body of these people have kept to
themselves, and are now, as we said be-
fore, as primitive in their ideas and GUS
toms as when they first set foot in the
New World, although many traits of the
Norman peasantry, which they still
possess. have been modified by climate
and circumstances.
They have remained purely French
and without Spanish admixture, as Is tho
case with other Creoles. They are an
Independent, hardy, athletic race, entire
ly content with their own lot in life.
being sufficient unto themselves and
having little interest in the outside world.
Their tastes are simple and nearly all
their wants a1e supplied from their own
Industries. 9'hey are chiefly an agricul-
tural and stock raising population, and
for this reason the families-though each
from its own large proportions il little
colony in itselt-do not live very near
together, but arc scattered broadcast
over tlse bosom of the prairies. 1t has
been questioned whether these people
tns
acteristics for such length of time if
they had clustered in larger communi-
ties.
The French patoi8 they Gpeak, and
which they believe TO be purcss Parisian
French, is unlike any other Creole patois
N Louisiana and is wholly unnixed with
negro dialect; for Che Acadtans wore
never elavo owners. Thny have ever
been q prolific race; but this sircum-
stance does pot as In other peoples, force
TIC young birds TO leave the parent nest
when old enough to scaS their own livcli-
hood. On tho contrary, the Acadians
are prepared Co make any sacrifice in
order to keep their children near them;
tho paternal acres are divided and sub.
divided into emaller farms, and every
child and grandchild receives q share as
soon rs he has reached the ago to settle
down and mako home for himself.
The Jung people arc also encouraged
TO marry early, that closer home ties may
bind them more strongly to their native
locality. Marriage is in as high csteem
with them as it was with their ancestors
in the days of the Roman republic, and
old bachelors are as freely held up to rid
| icu1e and contempt.
Their houses are all modelled after the
same plan, "A substantial and comfortable,
but plain cottage, built Of cypress, with
thick plastered walls, large or small, ac-
cording to the necessities OF its occupants,
and with broad porch or g2lerie in front.
Along the course of the Bayou Teche.
'where it flows through the green Ope-
lousas, and the Bayou Tigre, many of
! the Acadian homes are seen, each en-
| powered in a clustering grove of live oak
or China trees. This portion of the state
j. generally spoken of in Louisiana as the
''fecho country" and it il little curl
Gus 10 learn that the word 'Teche" is a
Creole corruption of Deutsch, from Ger
man colony which once settled on its
banLs.-Now Orleans Cor. San Francisco
| Glrouiple